Is Your Import Car Ready For Winter With It’s Auto Repair? | Southlake, TX

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Changes in the seasons lead to new obstacles your vehicle has to deal with, especially during the winter. Winter weather is notoriously tough on both vehicles and drivers, which means you have to do a little winter preparation if you want to keep your ride on the road and avoid expensive auto repairs. On top of that, having things like quality tires and brakes on your car during the winter goes a long way toward keeping you safe. If you want to make sure your import car is ready for the Southlake, TX, winter, here’s what you should know.

TIRES

With the increase of water, ice and snow on the roads during the winter, one of the best things you can do to make sure you’re prepared is have your tires checked out and possibly replaced. You should have your tires checked for proper inflation and wear, as well as any punctures or other damage that may be present.

While it might seem like a big investment, buying new tires is one of the best ways to get ready for winter. You can talk to an auto repair expert about whether or not you need new tires and which tires are right for your car, truck or SUV. At the very least, you should have your tires looked at once or twice a year.

BRAKES

Another great way to make sure your import car is ready for what the winter has to throw at it is to replace the brakes. Ultimately, a repair expert can tell you whether or not you need to replace your brakes, but it’s a good idea to at least have them looked at as winter approaches.

The most common brake service needed before winter is a simple brake pad replacement. No matter how hard you try to preserve your brake pads, they’re going to wear down a little bit every time you use your brakes and eventually need to be replaced. There may also be times when you need to have your rotors resurfaced or replaced, so make sure you have those checked out too.

In addition to having your brake pads and rotors checked and replaced, you also have to make sure your brake pedal is doing its job. Have an auto repair expert check your brake fluid every time you have your brakes inspected to make sure the pressure you apply to the pedal transfers to the brakes. If you want to make sure you aren’t putting yourself in danger with bad brakes, you should visit an experienced auto repair technician for a brake inspection every six months.

WIPER BLADES

The big things like brakes and tires are the most important when it comes to preparing your car for the Southlake, TX, winter, but your wiper blades are right up there too. You need good wiper blades to keep the rain, sleet and snow off of your windshield and make sure you can see clearly. The only way to make sure your wiper blades are in good shape is to have an auto repair expert replace them regularly.

Wiper blades are made of a soft material to prevent scratching of the windshield, but that means they also wear down pretty quickly. Most auto repair experts and wiper blade manufacturers agree that it’s best to have your wiper blades replaced every six months, although some people go as long as a year. If you notice streaks when you turn your wipers on, invest in new blades before you put yourself in danger on the road.

FLUIDS

No matter what time of year it is, it’s important to make sure your car has all the fluids it needs to run right. In addition to visiting a mechanic for regular oil changes, this also means you have to keep an eye on things like brake fluid, transmission fluid and more. Before winter arrives and the weather takes a serious downturn, take your import car to a qualified technician and have the fluid levels checked out.

If your car is several years old and you’ve never had the brake fluid or transmission fluid replaced, make sure you do that now. Even if you don’t think you need fresh fluid, it can prevent serious problems with your vehicle. On top of that, it’s important to stay on top of an auto maintenance schedule to keep your car in pristine condition.

BATTERY

The last thing you want during the dead of the winter is to have your battery die. What’s even worse is ending up stranded in a parking lot with no jumper cables and having to wait around for somebody. The good news is, most battery problems are somewhat easily preventable by simply taking your battery in for an inspection and testing every once in a while.

An auto repair serviceman can tell you whether or not your battery is holding a full charge and putting out enough power. If it’s not, it’s time for a new one. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to have your battery replaced and it’s not all that expensive. Even better, you can talk with your auto repair technician about some of the different battery options to make sure you’re getting a quality battery that will stand the test of time.

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED

It’s not easy taking good care of a car, especially if you’ve got a nice import car. The best thing you can do as a driver is find a reliable automotive professional who can help you keep an eye out for problems and stay on top of routine maintenance.

If you’re looking for import car maintenance and repairs, Import Car Center is the smart choice. We have parts from top brands and technicians who know how to work on various import car makes. If you need help getting your car ready for the winter, give us a call at (817) 481-5665 today.